Lubricant distributor and economizer



Nov. 3, 1953 c. K. sH-P 2,657,764- LUBRICANT DISTRIBUTOR AND EcoNoMrzER `Filed may 12, 195o n/ /al/W/ a 3i 'lll/Aw, 29 i9, 21 l 1NVENTOR.` CAMPBELL K, Sump ZZFWWMMQ/m/m ATTOQN EVS Patented Nov. 3, 1953 f LUBRICANT DISTRIBUTOR AND ECONOMIZER Campbell K. Sharp, Memphis, Tenn., assigner to Sharvania Oil & Grease Corp., Memphis, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application May 12, 195o, serial No. 161,508 l 4 claims. (ci. 184-50) This invention relates to the art of introducing lubricant into the steam` cylinders or chambers and valve or steam chests of such devices as steam engines, steam pumps, steam operated air compressors and steam hammers and more particularly to means for maintaining the optimum distribution of lubricant required for adequate lubrication.

It has long been known that the most effective Way to introduce lubricant into a steam cylinder or valve chest is to introduce the lubricant into the steam entering the cylinder through the valve chest and utilize the steam as a vehicle or medium for carrying and distributing the lubricant( For a long period of time dependence was placed in lubricators feeding cold and concentrated drops of low viscosity oils which would atomize quickly directly into fast moving steam passing through steam cylinders. Various atomizing devices such as, for example, extended quills, perforated slotted pipes and oil preheaters have been previously used. All these efforts left much to be desired in the way of lubrication efficiency since they did not create full effective spreading or dispersion of the whole of the oil with all of the steam which would have given complete distribution. As a result only a small portion reach-k ed the vital Spots While the remainder escaped out in the exhaust. This not only resulted in excessive Waste of lubricant but often in failure to keep all friction surfaces properly lubricated, tending to rapid Wear and mechanical failures of the mechanism.

These difiiculties were successfully overcome by the lubricant distributing `and economizing device disclosed in my Patent No. 2,074,943 issued March 23, 1937, which device effectively vaporizes or atomizes the lubricant and distributes all of the lubricant uniformly through all of the steam passing through a steam main to the steam cylinder of a steam operated mechanism, thereby providing adequate lubrication for all of the friction surfaces with a great economy of lubricant and providing a clean exhaust which does not foul condensers or cause other undesirable results.

Several years of experience with devices of .the character described in my patent,A referred to above, have demonstrated that, while these devices can and normally do produce the optimum distribution of lubricant into the steam flowing to a steam cylinder, these devices are subject to mechanical difculties and failures that at times renders their operation unreliable or unsatisfactory. Among such difficulties and failures is the tendency of the condenser components of these devices to become air bound or to form water locks which cause the instruments which are being depended upon in providing adequate lubrication from small quantities of lubricant to immediately and often unknowingly cease functioning. Under some operating conditions the condenser component of the patented device fails to provide a sufficient quantity of condensate for proper and efficient operation, and it also permits the application of steam at the maximum pressure to the force feed lubricator with consequent leakage of steam if there is. any wear of the lubricator or imperfection ofthe rconnecting line orif the lubricator is detached for replacement or repair. The patented devices have also occasionally suffered damage by freezing of watery therein when the steam is shut off in cold weather.

Although many attempts have been made by numerous persons working in this art to overcome the various defects and deficiencies of the prior art devices, no satisfactory solution to these problems was accomplished prior to the completion and testingof the present invention.

It is, therefore, among the objects yof the present invention to provide an improved lubricant distributor and economizer which is connectible between a force feed lubricator and a steam main or conduit to convert the lubricant supplied by the lubricator and water condensed from the steam into a mixture of finely divided, dispersed particles resembling a fog or vapor, and to introduce such mixture uniformly and constantly into the steam passing through the main so that substantially all of the steam will carry a sufficient yquantity of lubricant to effectively lubricate'all of the steam contacted friction surfaces of a steam operated mechanism to which the steam is supplied, which distributor and economizer has an integrally formed housing and condenser unit providing a condenser component that is not disrupted or damaged by the steam pressure nor by temperature variations and which will not become water or air bound under any operative conditions and will always provide an adequate quantity of condensate during operation, Whichdistributor and economizer will not be damaged by freezing of condensate therein and willefectively prevent leakage of steam at all times, which effectively subjects the mixture of lubricant and condensate to the temperature of live steam to provide an ebullition and thorough admixture of the constituents and dispersal of f the mixture; which is simple and economical to manufacture and which is strong and durable in construction, positive in operation, easy to assemble and disassemble and not subject to malfunctioning in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a lubricant distributor and economizer illustrative of the in= vention shown in operative assembly with a steam main fragmentarily illustrated; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal medial cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. A A

With continued reference to the drawing, the improved lubricant distributor and economizer therein illustrated is shown in operative assembly with a steam main I and comprises, in general, a base fitting I I, a pipe nipple I2 projecting from one end of the base fitting and threaded into a screw threaded aperture in the steam main, an elongated hollow housing part I3 secured at 'one end t'o the base fitting, a steam condenser I4 on the end of the housing part I3 remote from the base fitting, a tube I5 connecting the interior 'of the condenser with the interior of the base fitting at a location adjacent the pipe nipple I2, an elan-'- gated cylindrical mixing cup I6 secured at one end to the base fitting I I and circumspatially dis- Dsed within Athe housing 'part I3, a tube I1 ex*- tending through the base fitting I'I from a loca'- tion near the mixing cup I6 and circumspatially through the pipe nipple 12 to a location beyond the -distal end 'of the latter, a condensate overflow tub'e I3 extending from the vinterior of the con'- denser Il Vinto the open en'd 'of the cup I6, a valve ball I9 cooperating with va valve seat in the base fitting at th'e lower endof the cup I6, and a lubricant supply tube fitting carried by the base fitting II 4'at the en'd of the latter opposite the pipe nipple 12.

The above described assembly operates in the position illustrated in Figure 2 in which the common longitudinal lcenter line or axis of the cup I6, housing p'a'rt I3, condenser Il and overflow tube f8 is substantially vertically disposed with the condenser at the top of the assembly, the 'common longitudinal center lin'e or axis of the base fitting 11,'pi'pe nipple I2 and 'tube l1 rare substantially horizontally disposed 'and `normal to the first mentioned axis. l l

The lbase lfitting Il 'is an elongated `ol'lrlded body of metal, preferably formed as a 'steel forging, and has adjacent 'one end a hollow 'cythreads 'and so disposed that its axis 'is substantially p'err'iendicular to the longitudinal axis Aof the base fitting. This boss is of a size to receive the "corresponding 'end 'of the housing part "I3 and this housing part is provided at itsend opposite the condenser I l with 4external screw threads and is Athreaded -Into the 'boss 2| so that the housing part 'I3 'and the base fitting II dene a housing or enclosure for the mixing cup I"6. A cylindrical cham'ber'22 is providedv in the base 'fitting at the inner Iend of Athe fboss `2`| and a valve chamber 23, 'smaller than 'the chamber Z2 and substantially coaxial therewith, is provided 'in the base fitting at the bottom 4of chainbe"r 22, the edge at the open end of valve chamber 23 being bevledto provide ra valve seat 2'4 'for the check valveball'IS. y

An internally v'screw threaded `hollow boss ZS is formed on the -end'of -the base fitting adjacent the boss L2-'I 'and receives the fitting 20 by means cetrioli of which the lubricant supply tube 26 (see Figure 2), which connects the lubricant distributor and economizer to a force feed lubricator, not illustrated, is attached to the base fitting II. A lubricant channel 21 extends between the interior of the boss 25 and the check valve chamber 23 from which the lubricant is forced past the b'all I 9 into the bottom end of the mixing cup I6. The mixing cup I6 is an elongated hollow body, preferably, but not necessarily of cylindrical shape, and is provided at its bottom end with external screw threads threaded into an internally screw threaded recess 28 provided in the bottom 'of chamber `22- surrounding the valve seat at the open end of `valve chamber 23.

This provides a construction in which the mixing c'up Il and the housing part I3 are both rigidly secured directly to the base fitting through connections provided by simple machining operations on the base fitting and are firmly held in proper operative relationship to the base fitting and to each other.

The cup I6 has an outside diameter less than the diameter of the bore 23 of housing part I3 and has its upper end spaced from the upper end of bore 29 so that as shown by the arrows in Figure 2, a mixture of lubricant and water boiled in the mixing cup may overflow the top of the cup and pass through the annular space between cup I6 and housing part I3 into space 22 from which it enters tube I 'I in egress.

At its end opposite the boss 23 the base fitting is provided with an internally 'screw threaded, hollow boss formation 30 which receives the ex'- ternally screw threaded adjacent end of the pipe nipple I2, and a chamber 3| is provided in the base fitting at the inner end of boss 30. An internally screw threaded passage 32 extends between the chambers 3| and 22 rand tube I1 is provided at Yone end with 'external screw threads threaded into the passage 32 so that'the tube has communication lwith the chamber 22. Tube 4I'I is smaller than the bore 33 of the pipe nipple I2 and extends through the chamber 3| and the pipe nipple and beyond the 'outer end of the latter, the outer end of the ltube I1 being beveled, as indicated at '34, and 'directed relative to the direction of l'flow of steam through the steam main IU so'as to create `a slight suction to facilitate passage of lubricant from Ythe chamber 22 through the tube Il and out `into 'the steam at the outer end of 'the tube.

Steam from the main flows through the annular space between the ltube 'I1 and the 'pipe nipple I2 into the chamber v3| and from this chamber through the tube I5 into the condenser 1l, as shown by the arrow in Figure 2.

The base fitting is provided near the boss 2| with a smaller hollow boss 35 which communicates with the chamber A13| and is vprovided with internal screw threads receiving a 'fitting 4D in which the adjacent end of tube 'I5 is secured.

'The condenser I4, as illustrated, is of hollow cylindrical shape -and provided as an integral formation on the outer end of housing part 33. This condenser is provided intermediate :its length with an aperture in'lts wall in which :the corresponding end of tube I6 is secured. The housing and condenser 'unit 'is Aformediof 1a Imate'- rial of Vhigh `structural strength and good -hea't conductive characteristics, such-as steel or-brass, and the condenser has 'spaced-'apartannular ribs or fins 36 -on its exterior to 'increase its heat vdissipating a'bility. 'These fins may be formed intesi g'ally with the condenser body or may be firmly secured thereon as may be desired. f l

The bore 31 of the condenser is smaller than the bore 29 of the housing part I3 and communicates at one end with bore 29, the other or cuter end of condenser bore 31 being closed by end wall 38. I I

At its end adjacent housing bore 29-condenser bore 31 is internally screw threaded anda screw plug 39 is threaded into this end of the condenser bore. Overflow tube I8 extends through plug 39 and has its lower end disposedwithin the upper end of mixing cup I6 and its upper end below that end of tube I which is connectedto the condenser. f y .l

It is to be noted that the chamber 22 in the bore 2| of the tting II and the bore 29 in the housing part I3 together constitute a main upstanding chamber, and the bore 31 inthe condenser I4 constitutes an upstanding condenser chamber, the condenser chamber being superimposed upon the main chamber and having the lower end integrally connected to the upper end of the main chamber. The chamber 3| constitutes a subsidiary chamber which is arranged in spaced relation with respect to the main chamber.

The check valve ball I9 seats by gravity to prevent the escape of steam into the lubricator when the pumping pressure of the lubricator is i released between strokes. In addition, the check valve ball seals the device automatically to prevent the escape of steam when it becomes necessary to disconnect the lubricator for replacement or repairs. This sealing feature eliminates the need for separately attached oil line checkvvalves, extra threaded connections and other parts, thus reducing the cost of production and labor expenses.

The condenser I4 is of sturdy construction and is constructed of one piece with the housing part I3 to eliminate breakage of and leakage between separately attached parts. In the construction shown, the condenser is provided with space above the entrance level of the tube I5 so that no water can accumulate in the space above the entrance level of the steam, since any water which might reach the level of tube vI5 will drain down the tube. Thus with steam only in the space in the upper end of the condenser during operation, no water, air or vacuum locks can occur to retard performance.

All the outer surfaces of the condenser and its fins 36 are exposed to low room temperatures, and the steam moves slowly through the condenser, due to an almost balanced pressure throughout the interior of the entire device, so that steam is effectively reduced to water for filling the pocket around the tube I8 to overflow the tube and drain into the mixing cup I6.

yThe space in the condenser above tube I8 and the space in the housing above cup I6 provide ample room for the expansion of any ice formed in the condenser or 'cup so that formation of ice in the device will have no damaging effects.

Operation the accumulating lubricant therein. `Tube I'I provides a passage through which dry steam enters housing part I3 and surrounds cup I6 with its attendant heat which creates the phenomena of ebullition, a state of turbulence, ex-

pansion and foaming of the lubricant and Water mixture until it rises and overows the cup and drops down by gravity and its own expanding force, and passes out through tube I1 into the supply steam for the cylinder and comingles so completely with the steam that the latter literally becomes oiled steam. Thus all cylinder wall, ring and valve surfaces are completely covered with oil at all times, the oil laden steam acting as the lubricantdistributing agent in its travel through cylinders.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. bodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive-the; scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing. description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency ofthe claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for injecting lubricantr in'iinelyy divided condition into a steam conduit compris` ing a base fitting of elongated hollow construction, means at one end of said base fitting for connecting the latter to a steam conduit, means at the other end of said base fitting for connecting' standing substantially vertically from said basey fitting when in operative position and having substantially coaxial bores of different diameter disposedin end-to-end relationship therein with the bore of smaller diameter in said condenser Iand extending from the end of the bore of larger diameter remote from said base fitting, the end ofvsaid bore of smaller diameter remote from said bore of larger diameter being closed, a mixing cup of elongated tubular shape circumspatially disposed insaid bore of larger diameter and secured at one end to said base fitting, said mixing cup communicatinginteriorly with the means for connecting said base iitting to a force feed lubricator, a check valve interposed between said mixing cup and said means for connecting the base fitting to a force feed lubricator to admit lubricant into said mixing cup while precluding passage of steam and condensate through. the last-mentioned means, a plug secured in saidy bore of smaller diameter at the end thereof adjacent said bore of larger diameter, a tube circumspatially disposed in said bores and extending through said plug from a location intermediate the length of said bore of smaller diameter into the adjacent end of said mixing cup for conducting steam condensate from said'condenser into said mixing cup, said annular spacer between said mixing cup and said housing part constituting a steam chamber for boiling a mixture of condensate and lubricant in said mixing' cup and causing the mixture to overiiow the upper end of said cup into said space, an ejectorv tube vsecured at'one end in said base fitting andv extending circumspatially through the means for The present em- 

